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The sun crept its way through Mafuyu's curtain to mercilessly dig its claws against his eyes. Still, it was more gentle than the loud sound of the alarm coming from his phone.
Mafuyu reached out in a sleepy daze, tapping the wood of his headboard randomly a few times until he located his phone and put an end to the blaring noise.
Another school day, except it wasn't.
His last high school day. Graduation.
He opened his eyes and noticed the window was open like he left it last night, too lazy to get up and shut it. The breeze of spring shook the curtains in a gentle wave that revealed the freshly bloomed cherry blossoms right outside.
Spring was dawning on him. His last day as a high school student. The last major change in a year dictated by changes.
Mafuyu smiled as he sat up and stretched. He took his phone and opened the message app.
You
good morning
are we meeting at the gate?
It took a minute until he got a response.
Ritsuka
good morning
yeah the gate sounds fine
and dont skip breakfast, i know you don't like eating in the morning but the ceremonies take a while
Mafuyu smiled again, wider. He texts back a teasing 'Yes, sir.' and gets up to get ready for the day.
It's a bit weird, he thinks while taking a quick shower, that the routine he had been keeping for so long will change so abruptly. Not that it hasn't already, with given's upcoming debut having turned all of their schedules upside down, but waking up and getting ready for a school day has always been a constant factor, a part of his day that was certainly always there. Mafuyu likes the constant, it feels secure, even though waking up at 6am can be a nightmare.
With a sudden clarity, Mafuyu realizes that maybe it were the people- person, in it, that provided comfort. The feeling of waking up, putting his arms through guitar straps and taking the train with the certainty that he would be met by a sleepy 'good morning' and a soft gaze from one specific black-haired boy.
The thought of it makes him happy. The realization that he gets to have that for the rest of his life makes him happier.
After eating, brushing his teeth again and dressing up in proper gakuran for the first time in a while, Mafuyu leaves his house and heads to the train station. It's fairly full at this time, so he stands up the whole way. The stream of students outside the station nearing the school is huge, and Mafuyu follows it, looking for Ritsuka as he approaches the gates.
. . .
The ceremonies were as expected: Formal, a bit boring, and lengthy in its duration. It wasn’t until the auditorium was empty with the classmates and teachers all gathered outside that they were able to sneak past the overwhelming crowd of teens.
That they would end up in the staircase, their staircase, on the very last day they could ever be there together didn’t surprise Mafuyu. What did surprise him, however, was Uenoyama’s sudden boldness of taking him there by hand, ignoring the people they passed by in favor of intertwining their fingers.
That and the words he said as he softly clicked the door behind them.
"I... Actually, I wanted to give you something." Ritsuka says sheepishly, racking his hand through the back of his hair in an anxious mannerism. Mafuyu hums curiously, waiting.
"What is it?" He asks.
Ritsuka gets red, takes a deep breath like he's gathering courage. It's cute, it makes Mafuyu want to smile with fondness to see him so flustered over demonstrating affection, but the feeling is drowned out by the erratic beating of his heart as Ritsuka slowly unbuttons his own gakuran.
He removes the second button of it. The shiny, golden object with a cherry blossom engraved on it, laying on his palm, extended in Mafuyu's direction.
Ritsuka is giving him the second button of his gakuran on their graduation day, at the top of the staircase where they met.
The second button, the one that rests the closest to his heart, the one that represents one's most beloved person. Ritsuka is giving it to Mafuyu, looking at him with impossibly soft eyes, crimson brightening his face up to the tips of his ears, and Mafuyu doesn't know what to do with the feelings that spark inside of him. Doesn't know how to compute that he has Ritsuka's heart on his palm, the representation of his utmost affection, given to him so willingly. Something so special, so precious, trusted to him and him only. It's such a simple gesture, and yet it steals the air right out of Mafuyu's lungs and he couldn't feel more lucky to have something, elated. It's his most prized possession, his most cherished blessing. Ritsuka and his heart, the summer he brings with him, his dawn. He loves him so much it's overwhelming.
Mafuyu doesn't know what to do, so he stupidly stares in disbelief with wide, shiny eyes and parted lips. He shudders a shaky breath and notices how Ritsuka gets redder by the second.
"You–"
"You're giving it to me?" Mafuyu asks, quietly, as if afraid his voice will break if he dares to speak louder.
Ritsuka huffs, "Of course I am. Who else would I give it to? It's yours." Ritsuka hesitates before continuing, shy, and Mafuyu's heart feels like it's gonna melt between his fingers. "It has always been—“ He stops again, adorably awkward, and flushes so hard Mafuyu is worried he’ll faint. “It has always been in your hands. This is just, a physical reminder of it? Or something like that.” He takes a deep breath, grounding himself. “I want it to be yours. For the rest of my life." He quotes with a wobbly hint of a grin on his lips.
Mafuyu continues to stare at him, awestruck. He takes the button gently, puts it in his pocket and immediately cups Ritsuka's face between his hands, kissing him suddenly. Ritsuka startles but follows, pulling Mafuyu closer as he hugs him and it's soft. It's so soft. Mafuyu can't believe how soft he is under his fingertips, over his lips, inside and out. He feels Ritsuka smile into the kiss and feels like he's going to cry.
They break apart and Mafuyu rests their foreheads together, says in a choked up whisper, "I love you."
Ritsuka hums and smiles, "I love you too."
Mafuyu then starts unbuttoning his own gakuran, removing the second button, making Ritsuka stammer where he stands.
"Wait– You don't have to give me yours just because I gave you mine–"
"I'm giving mine to you because I want you to have it, not as retribution." Mafuyu explains, putting the button on Ritsuka's hand and closing his own hand around it. "I've never been one to care about traditions that much but... this one feels important now, it's important because of you." Mafuyu confesses, never breaking eye contact, "I love you, so you should have it. It's yours. It will always be. I promised I'll never let you regret it."
It's Ritsuka's turn to stare in disbelief. He feels the cold of the metal in his hand, the warmth of Mafuyu's hand cupping his, and thinks it's impossible for his heart to swell up more than it is right now. Mafuyu proves everyday that it is possible. He sweeps him off his feet without even realizing it.
"Okay." Ritsuka answers in a tiny, breathless whisper.